Spinal cord injuries can be extremely frightening for the victim and their loved ones as. People who suffer a spinal cord injury (SCI) may not know how much of the damage is permanent and when, if ever, they’ll regain the full use of their bodies.
One factor that can add to this uncertainty is something called spinal shock. This is a temporary condition that anyone who suffers an SCI experiences. It can last anywhere from days to years, depending on the location and severity of the injury.
It’s hard for doctors to predict a person’s recovery from spinal shock at least until the initial swelling caused by the injury has subsided. When a patient has suffered an SCI, doctors may have difficulty determining which symptoms are caused by the injury itself and which are the result of spinal shock.
Spinal shock causes a loss or at least a reduction in a person’s reflexes. These reflexes may begin to return. However, the victim may experience something called hyperreflexia, where the reflexes are overactive. They may suffer uncontrolled spasticity or twitchiness.
Spinal shock caused by an injury to the spinal cord can be treated with physical and other types of therapy. Sometimes, doctors prescribe painkillers and other medications. Patients may need assistive devices to help them get around or to breathe.
Spinal cord injuries can evolve for some time after the incident that caused them. Many spinal cord injuries are the result of car accidents or other incidents that were caused by someone else’s negligence or actions. If you’re taking legal action to seek compensation for medical care and other expenses, it’s essential to understand that you may need treatment and assistance in your daily life for many years to come. The costs of these things need to be factored into the amount you’re seeking in your lawsuit.